Our time together ……
Dear Mansagian,
Have you ever wondered how the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil would cause a tsunami in Vietnam? That phrase has always intrigued me since I first heard it a few months ago.
Our organisation has just held its 2025 Spring Education Symposium and Charity Ball in Leeds, arguably the best symposium he’s ever attended, according to Dr Raymond Ladele our Financial Secretary.
We were honoured to have the Lord Mayor of Leeds Her Worshipful Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung, The Head of Political Affairs at the Nigerian High Commission Ambassador Abu Eche and Professor Charles Egbu Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University as our Guests of Honour Who can forget the Mayor’s stirring and uplifting speech to the delegates to open the conference.
This symposium on Leadership in Education and Research was different as delegates reflected. We had three plenary sessions that appealed to everyone on different aspects of Leadership and six breakout sessions on anything from financial health for doctors to Arts in Medicine. We had themed abstract presentation sessions showcasing the best of research from our members. We held a Masterclass on Leadership led by the Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University.
The success of the conference was in no small part due to the passion, dedication and commitment of the Education Committee and Local Organising Committee led by Dr Yinka Kowobari and Dr Chidi Molokwu respectively. On behalf of the membership, I thank them and all their committee members for their service to our organisation.
Dr Dyanne Imo-Iwoke the 2025 MANSAG Travel Fellowship winner in the post graduate category, shared her experience at this conference with me. She praised the organisers for listening. ‘They listened to our feedback from previous symposia she said and delivered a completely different programme. I wish we had more time for some of the sessions’
In my summary at the end of the Symposium I shared what I believed was the take home message for each of us. As leaders, our vision should be based on our values and this drives our passion for involvement and investing in our teams to deliver shared goals. Leadership according to Professor Egbu is not without its challenges but it does have its rewards even in difficult circumstances.
Lots of new partnerships and initiatives were launched at the symposium. We have developed strategic partnerships with a number of organisations and more will be coming on stream soon
I’m thrilled to announce to members that we now have a deal with Air Peace as our MANSAG Gold Partner. Any member or their family flying to Nigeria from London will get an automatic 15% discount on their air fares. You will need your membership number to avail yourself and your family of this benefit. Information about this membership benefit will be shared soon by Dr Alalade the MANSAG secretary.
Cruxstone and Seso Global have become our very first MANSAG Diamond Partners. These organisations will be working with us at National and Chapter levels to support our work They have networks and hotels that will give our members discounts for goods and services in Nigeria. They are real estate investors and MANSAG is working with them to create an ecosystem that supports our passion to give back our expertise to Nigeria. Cruxstone and Seso Global will support financially our regional and national events. We have agreed different models of real estate investments with them… off plan acquisitions, properties for sale, time shares, part buy part rent etc … for our members. I would encourage you to consider buying with them as they are trusted partners and will bring benefits to MANSAG. If you buy them please let us know as a commission from the sale comes to MANSAG. The fund will be used to support our work on STAR* and SCALE initiatives in Nigeria.
We launched the STAR* and SCALE programs at the conference. The proceeds from the raffle tickets and auctions will go towards supporting our members to begin sustainable improvements in specialty training across General Practice, Adult Medicine, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Emergency Medicine – SCALE; and service improvements in Geriatric Care, Cardio thoracic surgery, Emergency Care, Women’s Health, Diabetes, Newborn care and Maternity – STAR* We already have partners in Nigeria in these projects and we are raring to go. At the symposium several members like Dr Ajayi, Dr Abba and Dr Anosike informed me they were already working in these spaces. I hope we can all join up together to leverage our individual contributions to make an impact.
If you would like to be part of the SCALE or STAR*programs please email me at president@mansag.org or Dr Alexander Oboh diasporaengagement@mansag.org. We intend to start one of our STAR* programs in June 2025.
Dates for your diary:
- 17 May 2025. MANSAG East of England Region Wellbeing Seminar Online
- 31 May 2025. MANSAG NDUK Inter Regional Sports and Wellbeing Day Sheffield.
- 31 July – 3 August 2025. Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentist Annual Conference Edmonton Canada
- 24 – 26 October 2025. MANSAG Annual General Conference and Meeting Cambridge
And Finally,
After the conference Dr Vincent Okafor a retired Geriatrician and one of the five doctors who founded MANSAG in a Liverpool sitting room in 1997, wrote to share his pride at being able to witness how their vision has evolved to the hundreds of members MANSAG has today who contribute significantly to the health care system of our adopted country UK and who share a common passion to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in our home country Nigeria. His testimony is an inspiring example of how the flutter of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil can cause a tsunami in Vietnam!
Mansagians, I urge you not to delay any further. Join me on this journey to shape healthcare in the UK and in Nigeria. Together we Transform!!!
Until next time, remain blessed
Jide,
Dr. Jide Menakaya
President MANSAG
